Archive for December, 2010

I built some shelves and installed some peg board in the electrical room at Parts & Labour last week. I always forget to take the “before” picture when I do building projects.
Wednesday I delivered VICE far and wide across the city. Afterwards, Cheeseman and I loaded up the van with scrap lumber from the backyard and went to the dump before choir practice at Bloor Street United Church.
Horsey Craze played at P&L on Wednesday night and it was super funnnn.

I shot a music video with Richard Kern for Dentata on Thursday December 9th at STUDIO Gallery. Kevin Hegge wrote a story about Kern/Dentata for NOW Magazine.
I first met Richard when I was shooting him for Fashion Television back in May, and he called me a couple of weeks ago to have me help him with the Dentata video.
He said he’d checked out my blog (the one you’re reading right now), and was really nice to me the whole day! It almost felt like we’re buddies. I hope I get to hang out with him again.
Below is one of his earliest music videos (from 1985) Sonic Youth – Death Valley ’69.

The 159 Manning Sacred Harp Choir sang at the opening party for Ryan Halpenny’s Poster Show at Function13 on Saturday Dec 4th, as well as the closing party on Friday Dec 10th. I think it’s “neat” that we were the only musical act to perform at both the opening and closing parties.
I rarely get nervous, but I felt a few butterflies before we sang on Friday. I was okay with us being a bit sloppy the first couple times we sang in front of people since I was happy that it was happening at all, but now that it’s been a couple of months I think people should expect more of us, because this choir ain’t no joke.
We’re even listed in the Toronto Shape Note Singing newsletter!
We’ll be meeting at Bloor Street United (300 Bloor Street West) this Wednesday from 7:30 to 9:30, then meeting at 159 Manning again from 7 to 9 the following Wednesday, Dec 22nd. The response to the singings here have been so positive that we’re going to continue into 2011.

I shot this video of the Creaking Tree String Quartet on the Dundas streetcar with Graeme Phillips a few weeks ago. I ran into Graeme at Dundas West Station after I’d returned a rental van. He handed me one of his cameras, and we managed to capture a few of songs before we reached my stop.

I have yet to make a poster, but the line-up for NYE here at 159 Manning is finalized! I’m proud to announce that the headlining act of the night are the Harp Twins, from Chicago!
From their bio: Identical twins Camille and Kennerly are professional duet harpists and actresses. Nicknamed the “Harp Twins” by their fans, Camille and Kennerly have a passion and flair for arranging contemporary music for harp duet. The twins were trained classically but their true love and passion is playing rock, pop, hip-hop, country, jazz, crossover, and any other type of music that one would not expect to hear on the harp. Camille and Kennerly are known for their remarkable duet harp arrangements of songs by artists such as Lady Gaga, Bon Jovi, Led Zeppelin, Rihanna, Journey, Johnny Cash, OutKast, Coldplay, The Beatles, Taylor Swift, and many more. Camille and Kennerly also write and compose original pieces for harp duet.
They are driving all the way from Chicago just to play this party!! They are to play 2 sets that night, each 45 minutes long. By my request, they have agreed to add Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart, and the Smiths – Asleep to their repetoir for the evening!
The Third Mind (feat. members of Purses, Breast Milk, and the Boogers) are going to play in the library at 11pm, where Quest For Fire and the Job played last year. The Third Mind are still writing songs, but we’ve been jamming everyday for the past 2 weeks. Soon Nyles, Nick, Cheeseman and I will all share vocal duties. Like the Beatles, or Wu-Tang Clan.

The backyard will be enclosed by tents, Gabe Knox and Patrick McGuire are djing overlooking the backyard + a late-nite/early-morning dj set from Scott Cudmore after Parts & Labour closes shop that night.

Hopefully it’s going to look like this picture of Gabe djing at the BBQ last June except it’ll be at night, and there will be a giant tent over everyones heads.

I auditioned for the role of “bass player” in the Job just over a year ago. I got the part, but the band fell apart a few months later.
I played with Nyles in the Job (early 2010), I played with Chris Cheeseman in the Bang-Bangs (2009), I played with Nick Bechard in Wonkavision (1995 to 1997). Now I play with all 3 of them in the Third Mind!
We’re playing our first show here at 159 Manning on NYE, Friday Dec 31st.
I’m still playing the same drums I was playing in Moral Outrage in 1998.